July 10 news: Perth garden tour, historic Kingston ship, local beaches
Also, Hintonburg spa, Vankleek Hill Porchfest, tonight's Zoom Q&A
A garden tour in Perth and crafting in Dunvegan. A spa in Hintonburg and SS Keewatin in Kingston. Ottawa Bluesfest and Vankleek Hill Porchfest. Art in the Park in Wakefield. Dozens of local beaches. Tonight’s Q&A Zoom call for paid subscribers. And the chance to win a trip to Hong Kong! Read on for details.
Calendar of events: Garden tour, full-moon yoga and Bluesfest
This week’s calendar of events features more than 30 festivals and events you can enjoy this week, including a home and garden tour in Perth, a summer herb walk in Kemptville, the Vankleek Hill Porchfest, the Hope Volleyball SummerFest at Mooney’s Bay, Art in the Park in Wakefield, two country music festivals, a crafting event in Dunvegan, two full-moon yoga events, movies under the stars in Smiths Falls, Ottawa Bluesfest and much, much more. Bluesfest photo courtesy of Ottawa Tourism.
This week's featured contest
The prize in this contest is a four-night trip for two to Hong Kong in November, including flights, accommodations and two passes to the Fintech Week conference. (Hey, nobody says you actually have to go to the conference.) Open to Canadian residents of legal age, with some restrictions. Enter by July 24, 2025.
Find out where you can hit the beach!
If this sultry weather has you dreaming of taking a cool dip at the beach, you’re not alone! Fortunately, I’ve just updated my big list of local beaches, which features more than 40 lakes and rivers where you can indulge in a refreshing swim (including the beach at Parc des Cèdres in Aylmer, above).
Heads Up: Historic Kingston ship, Hintonburg spa, Wakefield Mill
In this week’s Heads Up post, you’ll learn about SS Keewatin, a grand Edwardian passenger liner you can tour in Kingston. You’ll find out how to unwind at a Hintonburg spa and then reward yourself with charcuterie. You’ll peek inside the Moulin Wakefield Mill Hôtel and Spa. I also have more details about Perth’s Friends-themed cafe, which I mentioned briefly a few weeks ago.
Don’t miss tonight’s Q&A Zoom call!
This weekly newsletter will always be free, as will the website articles you’re used to seeing here.
But if you’re looking for more … you’re in luck! A paid subscription gives you extra perks. Big thanks to all the readers who have already paid for a subscription.❤️
The first paid-subscriber-only benefit is coming up TONIGHT AT 7PM. On Thursday, July 10, I’ll be holding a Zoom call where paid subscribers can ask me about anything from summer fun with kids to romantic local getaways. Paid subscribers have already received the link to this event, and I’ll send it again just before tonight’s Zoom.
If the Q&A sounds like something you’d enjoy, take out a paid subscription before 6:30pm today to receive the link! To learn more about paid subscriptions, please click the button below.
And before I sign off for this week
It’s prime time to visit a lavender farm, check out some of the region’s many farmers’ markets or to plan ahead for upcoming artists’ studio tours. And don’t forget my big list of concerts!
Trying to find something from an earlier newsletter? You can read previous issues on the Ottawa Road Trips Substack page.
That's it from me for now. I'll be back in your in-box next week with more road tripping ideas!
As the owner of Ottawa Road Trips, I acknowledge that I live on, work in and travel through the unceded, unsurrendered territory of the Algonquin Anishinaabeg Nation. I am grateful to have the opportunity to be present on this land. Ottawa Road Trips supports Water First, a non-profit organization that helps address water challenges in Indigenous communities in Canada through education, training and meaningful collaboration.